Free Final Target by Iris Johansen Page B

everything with a grain of salt and trying to find a reasonable explanation for it. It's not your nature to do anything else." She smiled. "Right?"
    "I care about you." Jessica reached over and covered Mellie's hand with her own." It scares me that you might-"
    "The only thing you should be scared about is if we can't stop what's happening to Cassie…and me. I'm not nuts. I'm just riding that tornado and hoping something will make it go away." She squeezed Jessica's hand. "Toward the end, after Travis came, I was feeling stronger and I began to think instead of feel. Maybe if I can gain some control, I'll be able to stop the tornado."
    "God, I hope so."
    "But I have to have Michael Travis, Jessica. I'm not strong enough to fight for Cassie by myself. He has to stand between."
    "You're talking as if he's some kind of medium."
    "I don't know why he's able to help Cassie. You brought him to Cassie because I told you to find something to break the flow. It worked. He worked. We may be able to do without him later but not now. Get him, Jessica."
    "Oh, I got him. It wasn't difficult. He finds the situation very interesting and he's bored at the moment." She made a face. "But he's not going to be easy to handle."
    "I could tell." She got to her feet. "Now I need to go for a run before I hit the books." She brushed a kiss across Jessica's forehead. "Poor Jessica. I know it's hard for you. But everything will be okay."
    Melissa was treating her as if she were a child. Well, she felt as confused as a child. Everything Melissa had said was out of her realm of belief, yet she had no option but to go along with her. "Just one more question. What would have happened to you if I hadn't brought Travis last night?"
    She didn't speak for a moment. "I don't know. I'm not sure how it works. But I don't think I could have broken free at the end."
    "The end?"
    She moved quickly toward the door. "If Cassie had died, she would have taken me with her."
    Melissa knocked on the door of the gatehouse. "The sun is shining and all's right with the world. Come out and play, Michael Travis."
    Travis threw open the door. "I beg your pardon?"
    "In case you don't recognize me as the rag of a woman you saw in my bedroom last night, I'm Melissa Riley."
    "Oh, I recognize you."
    "Then go change and come out and run with me. You usually run about this time, don't you?"
    "Yes."
    "I'll wait." She came into the house and dropped onto the sofa. "This is a nice place. Jessica and I used to play here when we were kids. Hurry, will you? I have to get back and study."
    He smiled. " I'll try not to keep you waiting." He disappeared into the bedroom.
    Mellie glanced around. Open laptop on the dining table, books piled on the coffee table. But other than that, he was very neat. It was what she'd expected. Everything organized.
    She leaned forward and checked out the book titles. She smiled. Smart. Very smart.
    She moved to the window and looked up at the manor. How many times had he stood here and stared at the lights in Cassie's window?
    "Ready." He came out of the bedroom wearing shorts and an Oxford University T-shirt. "Unless you've changed your mind, Ms. Riley?"
    He didn't know what to think of her. That was okay. It put her one step ahead. "No way. And call me Melissa or Mellie like Jessica does." She jumped to her feet and trotted outside. The sun struck her face like a blessing, and she stopped and closed her eyes. "Isn't it beautiful today? And smell that grass. I love mornings after a rain. It just sort of…fills me until I overflow."
    "Your cup runneth over?"
    "Yep." Her eyes flicked open and she jumped down the steps. "Race you to the pond in back of the house."
    She beat him by four yards. She leaned against the willow tree and tried to get her breath. "Did you let me win?"
    "What makes you think that?"
    "You're in good shape and I've seen you run."
    "You're in pretty good shape yourself."
    She chuckled. "From another man I'd take that as a pass."
    "Why not from